The ongoing conflict between the Swedish Association of Health Professionals (Vårdförbundet) and the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR) escalates as negotiations hit a standstill.

Vårdförbundet demands shorter working hours for healthcare workers, citing severe burnout, while SKR arrives at negotiations without a mandate to make meaningful changes.

In Västerbotten, healthcare services face significant cutbacks, and the region warns that a looming strike could endanger patient safety by delaying or canceling critical treatments.

Vårdförbundet maintains that their strike plans are carefully designed to protect the most vulnerable patients.

Both parties are urged to resolve the conflict to prevent further deterioration of Sweden's healthcare system.